When The Heart Knows

Sophie Bartow Author Interview

Whispers of Love centers around a woman who is engaged but has conflicting feelings about her future. Did the romance come first, or did the mystical elements of Swan Harbor inspire the story?

In this series, the lore came first. When I finished my Hope & Hearts series, which was all about without hope, there would be no happy ending, I started thinking about what was next. One of the sayings that shows up often in my books is ‘Listen to your heart, it always knows,’ and from that, Mystical Waters Canyon was born. Once I had an idea of the legend, and knowing that Amy and Gabe had been tap-dancing around each other for twenty books, their story became about what happens when the heart knows long before the characters were willing to admit it. 

The town is warm, supportive, and occasionally nosy. Do you enjoy writing those family and community dynamics as much as the romance itself?

Absolutely. Swan Harbor is as much a character as any of the people who live there. The town has a personality, a history, and a tendency to involve itself in everyone’s business. As new characters arrive and familiar faces return, I can explore friendships, family ties, and community connections that add layers to both the romance and the mystery. I love writing romance, but I’m equally interested in what happens after two people fall in love and how those relationships ripple through the town around them.

Which scene was the most enjoyable to write?

This is a tough question because I loved exploring Amy and Gabe’s flirty/slow-burn romance. But in this book, I especially enjoyed writing the relationship between Gabe and Amy’s brothers. Gabe and Lee were particularly fun because they’d been partners for years, and suddenly Lee had to see Gabe in a very different role. Watching Lee be just a little uncomfortable was a delight.

What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?

I’m currently working on book two of a new romantic suspense series set in Boston. The Promise of Trust explores what it means to trust again when fear, grief, and childhood dreams have all left their mark. The current plan is to release it in late September.

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In Swan Harbor, legends say that when the elements of Mystical Waters Canyon are in balance, your true love’s name can be heard whispered on the wind.

A restless heart.
A legacy written in whispers.
A love brave enough to listen.


Amy Simpson has always known who she is—decisive, grounded, and unwilling to settle for anything less than what feels right. But as her siblings begin to pair off and the canyon whispers three unexpected words—You are Air—the certainty she’s always relied on begins to shift. An engagement that once made sense no longer feels like enough, and walking away means choosing discomfort over security. For the first time, Amy steps into the unknown… and toward a man who doesn’t overwhelm or unsteady her—instead, he quiets the noise, steadying something deep inside her. With Gabe, love isn’t a spark she has to chase—it’s a truth she can finally trust.
Gabe has always trusted his instincts—especially the quiet nudges he’s learned not to ignore. As a Special Agent, following those instincts has guided every decision he’s made. But in Swan Harbor, those instincts feel different—stronger, more deliberate, as if the town itself has a hand in where he’s meant to be. At the center of it all is Amy—his partner’s sister, the one person he shouldn’t be thinking about, let alone wanting. Balancing duty and desire has never been part of the plan, yet the pull toward her is undeniable. For the first time, Gabe isn’t just following a lead—he’s beginning to understand that some paths aren’t meant to be questioned… only chosen.
As Amy and Gabe are drawn together, the uncertainty of the past gives way to a truth as steady as the canyon walls. His quiet strength grounds her against the wind, and in return, her trust anchors him to the home he’s finally found. In the end, Gabe does what he’s always done best—he chooses Amy… and a love he can no longer ignore.
Because in Swan Harbor, love isn’t just found—it’s what brings everything into alignment… quieting the past, steadying the present, and guiding it all back to where it was always meant to be.

Welcome to Swan Harbor
Whispers of Love is Book 4 in the Mystical Waters Canyon series, set in the beloved world of Swan Harbor. This steamy, contemporary, small-town, friends-to-lovers romance blends mystery with a touch of the mystical—and a guaranteed happy ending.
If you enjoy emotionally rich, bingeable romance with layered suspense, deep connection, and interconnected stories, you’ll feel right at home in Swan Harbor. While each book can be read as a standalone, the series is best enjoyed in order, as each story adds another layer to the mystery surrounding the canyon. In Swan Harbor, every story is connected—and every whisper leads somewhere. Follow the path… and discover where it takes you. Whispers of Love is Book 4/4—the final chapter of the Mystical Waters Canyon series.
The final whisper has been waiting… Return to the canyon, where every path, every past, and every promise leads to the love that was meant to be.

Mystical Waters Canyons Books
Whispers of Luck
Whispers from the Past
Whispers of a Miracle
Whispers of Love


Echoes from the Canyon
Whispers Through Time
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The Literary Titan is an organization of professional editors, writers, and professors that have a passion for the written word. We review fiction and non-fiction books in many different genres, as well as conduct author interviews, and recognize talented authors with our Literary Book Award. We are privileged to work with so many creative authors around the globe.

Posted on June 25, 2026, in Interviews and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.

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